DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT PROFILE

Dakshina Kannda (Erstwhile South Kanara) is the southern coastal district of Karnataka State with an area of 4866 sq. KM.  The district lies between 12 57' and 13 50’  North Latitude and 74  and 75 50’ East Longitude. It has a population of  18,97,730*.

The district spreading from the Western Ghats towards the Arabian Sea to the west, is bounded by Udupi district in the North, Shimoga, Chickmagalur and Hassan districts in the East, Kasaragod taluk of Kerala state and Coorg districts in the south and Arabian Sea in the west.

The district can be divided into 3 belts, the coastal strip, the middle belt and the Western ghat section. The coastal tract is the most thickly populate part of the district, as it is fertile and trading facilities. The middle belt consists of hills and dales and forms into an undulating terrain. The valleys are fertile and boast of several gardens of arecanut and coconut, and paddy fields, which are the main crops of the district. The Western Ghats form the eastern boundary of the district consisting of evergreen forests with patches of paddy fields and arecanut gardens scattered here and there surrounded by forests.

The climate of the district shares the wider climatic pattern of the other West Coast districts of India. It is characterized by excessive humidity(78%) during the greater part of the year. There are four seasons viz., 1) Four wet months of June, July, August and September, when the district encounters strong winds, high humidity, heavy showers and a slight fall in temperature. 2) Two warm and damp months of October and November when south west monsoon is retreating. 3) Three cool months of December, January and February when generally dry conditions prevail and 4) Three hot months of March, April and May which is the period of rising temperature. Climate in the district is generally equable. However, it is colder in the interior than in the coast. 

 The important rivers of Dakshina Kannada District are  Suvarnanadi, Shambavi (Mulki), Gurpur River, Nethravathi, Pavanje,  Nandini  besides there there are many other  rivers with perennial flow of water and a number of streams, all running from east to west. 

General Information

 Source:2001Census